Thirty years on, and Man United hero Lou Macari is still a student prince

The build-up to the 1977 FA Cup Final was one of the most intense ever. Liverpool were, at the time, aiming to win an unprecedented treble. Standing in their way were their fiercest of rivals, Manchester United.

''At the time I honestly believed I had hit the ball as cleanly as I could and that it had just sailed into the net''

The game was evenly poised at a goal apiece when, in the 58th minute, United’s Jimmy Greenhoff battled for the ball with Tommy Smith. The loose ball fell to Lou Macari, who from ten yards hit a low shot which deflected off Greenhoff past Liverpool goalkeeper Ray Clemence and into the net.

It turned out to be the winning goal and was the most important in Macari’s career. He returned to Manchester a hero and recalls: “Obviously, when people think of the luck we got in ‘77, they talk about the winning goal. But at the time I honestly believed I had hit the ball as cleanly as I could and that it had just sailed into the net.”

Thirty years later Macari, now a presenter on MUTV, sits in front of a group of students at the University of Staffordshire. Relaxing in his chair, he looks around the room at the group of would-be sports journalists who are about to question him. He has given up his time to participate in a press conference about his career as a player and manager and to answer questions about his experiences in the media.